The NBA All-Star Game has a brand-new format in 2018, but based on the first returns of fan voting announced Thursday by the league, the midseason showcase will likely feature two New Orleans Pelicans big men who’ve become fixtures in mid-February.
Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins placed second and third, respectively, among Western Conference frontcourt players, amassing 350,000-plus fan votes apiece. Kevin Durant topped West frontcourt players, with Davis and Cousins also garnering top-three status; when voting is completed on Jan. 18, the top-two backcourt and top-three frontcourt vote-getters from both NBA conferences will automatically be selected as All-Stars.